diff --git a/js/ui/messageTray.js b/js/ui/messageTray.js
index eea354cf7..7dfa6c0f2 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageTray.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageTray.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ const NOTIFICATION_TIMEOUT = 4;
 const HIDE_TIMEOUT = 0.2;
 const LONGER_HIDE_TIMEOUT = 0.6;
 
+const MAX_NOTIFICATIONS_IN_QUEUE = 3;
+
 // We delay hiding of the tray if the mouse is within MOUSE_LEFT_ACTOR_THRESHOLD
 // range from the point where it left the tray.
 const MOUSE_LEFT_ACTOR_THRESHOLD = 20;
@@ -1550,12 +1552,19 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
             // we stop hiding it and show it again.
             this._updateShowingNotification();
         } else if (this._notificationQueue.indexOf(notification) < 0) {
-            notification.connect('destroy',
-                                 Lang.bind(this, this._onNotificationDestroy));
-            this._notificationQueue.push(notification);
-            this._notificationQueue.sort(function(notification1, notification2) {
-                return (notification2.urgency - notification1.urgency);
-            });
+            // If the queue is "full", we skip banner mode and just show a small
+            // indicator in the panel; however do make an exception for CRITICAL
+            // notifications, as only banner mode allows expansion.
+            let bannerCount = this._notification ? 1 : 0;
+            let full = (this.queueCount + bannerCount >= MAX_NOTIFICATIONS_IN_QUEUE);
+            if (!full || notification.urgency == Urgency.CRITICAL) {
+                notification.connect('destroy',
+                                     Lang.bind(this, this._onNotificationDestroy));
+                this._notificationQueue.push(notification);
+                this._notificationQueue.sort(function(notification1, notification2) {
+                    return (notification2.urgency - notification1.urgency);
+                });
+            }
         }
         this._updateState();
     },